Electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT) is a useful therapy for various mental
illnesses, however many patients who have had ECT
report cognitive side effects. There have been many
efforts to adjust the ECT to minimize the side effects,
but they have not been very successful. Thiamine,
or B1, is a pharmacological treatment that has now
been researched as a way to help with this problem.
Many elderly patients who have undergone ECT for depression
have used thiamine supplements and reported a decrease
in the confusional state after ECT treatments. The
use of thiamine supplements then is a good alternative
therapy to aid in the cognitive decline after ECT,
and they do not have the adverse side effects of other
treatments. |
